The development and workings of complex societies and their products

This is a subject that continues to be of great archaeological importance, especially as it includes the origins and development of urbanism. It also includes the development of art, architecture, ceramics and religion. In addition to supporting new research, this theme also involves the completion and publication of two tell excavation projects, the continuing publication of the work of Kenyon in Jerusalem, and the publication of work at the Jerash Hippodrome.
CBRL has been supporting the following projects:

Ancient Jerusalem (1961-2006)
Dr Kay Prag (University of Manchester)
Vols 1-IV already published, Vols V-VI in preparation
Publication Team members: Dr Helen Brown, Dr Kevin Butcher, Dr G. Clarke, Pre B. Couroyer OP, Mr A. Dimoulinis. Dr C. Grigson, Dr John Hayes, Professor C. Koehler, Dr P. Mattheson, Professor Michael Metcalf, Dr M. al-Moreikhi, Dr K. Prag, Professor Richard Reece, Dr David S. Reese, Dr St J. Simpson, Ms D. Snow

Archaeological exploration of Aredhiou-Vouoppes
Dr Louise Steel (University of Wales, Lampeter)
Intensive surface survey, topographic and geophysical survey of a small inland settlement identified as a LBA farmstead in order to assess the suitability for future archaeological research and examine evidence of agricultural exploitation of LBA Cyprus hinterland

Care of collections at St. Katherines’s Monastery, Mt. Sinai, Egypt
Nikos Androutsopoulos (University of Durham, MA research)

Death, burial and memory in Early Prehistoric Cyprus
Paula Jones (University of Wales, Lampeter)

Dhiban site conservation/ reconstruction and excavations at Khirbat al-Nudayna Al-‘Aliya (Tall As-Sa’idiyya cemetery)
John Green (UCL, PhD Research)

Excavation at Sidon, Lebanon
Dr Claude Doumet-Serhal (British Museum)
To reconstruct Sidon’s history through examination of city’s stratified layers

First hand study of Levantine Bronze and Iron Age material culture and sites
at museums in Damascus, Aleppo, Lattakia, Beirut and Amman
Rachel Fentem (UCL)

Household and Community Storage Strategies in 3rd millennium BC Cyprus
Sorina Spanou (University of Edinburgh, PhD Research)

Instrumental Neutron activation Analysis Of South Jordanian  Iron Age II Ceramics
Dr Charlotte Whiting (CBRL Research Fellow)
Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis to enhance our understanding of the nature of south Jordanian Iron Age II ceramic production, consumption and distribution.

Investigation of Bronze Age pottery found during emergency excavation of cemetery at Kissonerga, Cyprus
Thomas Lucas (University of Edinburgh)

Investigation of Bronze Age pottery found in cemetery at Kissonerga, Western Cyprus
Lisa Marie Graham (University of Edinburgh)

Iron Age Ceramics in West Syria
Matt Whincop (University of Durham, PhD Research)

Israelite Sanctuaries: New Theoretical Approaches
Timothy Smith (University of Cardiff, PhD Research)

Jerablus-Tahtani
Prof Edgar Peltenburg (University of Edinburgh)
Inter-disciplinary primary research programme designed to investigate the precocious expansion of the Uruk civilization, secondary state formation in Early Bronze Age Syria, environmental and political reasons for widespread urban recession in the late 3rd millennium BC in the Near East and the early history of archaeologically inaccessible Carchemish. Final manuscripts now being produced, Vol I (2005) Vol. II (2006/7)

Palaeographical and archaeological analysis of the undeciphered syllabary of Bronze Age Cyprus, Cypro-Minoan
Silvia Ferrara (UCL)

Psemitismenos Trelloukas and polity origins in Maroni Valley, Cyprus
Dr Sturt Manning (University of Toronto)

Ritual Practices in Mortuary and Domestic Contexts in Prehistoric East Mediterranean
Vasilki Koutrafouri (University of Edinburgh, PhD Research)

Shuaib Hisban Project (1965-)
Dr Kay Prag (University of Manchester)
A regional survey and excavations undertaken since 1965

Socio-Political Complexity and Inter-Regional Connections in the 5th-4th Millenia Syro-Mesopotamia
Philip Karsgaard (University of Edinburgh, PhD Research)

South Jordan Iron Age II Survey and Excavation Project
Dr Charlotte Whiting (CBRL Research Fellow)
Excavation of Khirbet el-Dabba and survey of the surrounding area between Showbak and Wadi Musa to reassess previous models of Iron Age society on the South Jordanian plateau.

Tel Jezreel Post-Excavation and Publication
Dr Charlotte Whiting (CBRL Research Fellow)
Prof Bill Finlayson (management)
Drawing together of previous work of a former BSAJ excavation to bring the results to publication.

Tell Nebi Mend
Peter Parr (UCL, backlog publication project)
Currently part funded by the BA but moving to complete CBRL funding and management. First manuscript due end 2006.

Wadi Rayyan, Ajlun (2001-2006)
Dr Jaimie Lovell  (CBRL Amman Research Officer)
Investigation of olive production and the Late Chalcolithic to Early Bronze Age transition in the Southern Levant. Funded by Australian Research Council and affiliated with CBRL.
 

Additional activities

• Publication of the ‘Carcemish Region in the 3rd Millenium BC’ Conference session within the Levant supplementary series

Top